LIFE OF MYTTON. 165 



" He was one day," says my correspondent, " en- 

 gaged to dine with a friend at some distance from Hal- 

 ston, and came, as usual, in his tandem. After dinner, 

 the conversation turning on the danger of that mode of 

 harnessing- horses, from the httle command the driver 

 can have over the leader, Mytton at once expressed 

 his dissent from this doctrine ; and being under the 

 influence of the ' rosy god,' offered to bet a pony 

 (25/.) all round, that he would that night drive his 

 tandem across the country, into the turnpike road, a 

 distance of half a mile, having in his progress to get 

 over a sunk fence, three yards wide ; a broad deep 

 drain ; and two stiff quick-set fences, with ditches 

 on the further side ! This bet was taken by several 

 of the party present to the tune of 150/. and up- 

 wards ; and after the necessary preparations, all turned 

 out to see the fun, although in justice it should be 

 said, as Mytton was then under age, it was not only 

 proposed to him that the bets made should be off, 

 but he was strongly persuaded not to make the 

 attempt. This, however, with him had always a 

 contrary effect ; and twelve men, with lanterns on 

 poles, having been procured, to aid the light of the 

 moon, on the appointed signal being given, away 

 went Mytton. 



